Debt Consolidation Can Be Easy With This Advice

June 19th, 2012 admin

It isn’t easy to pay off your debts. People who accumulate debt do so because they don’t have enough income to deal with their bills. How can they ever truly deal with their debt? The fact is that debt consolidation can do the trick, and you can learn how below.

Investigate any debt consolidation company you are considering. That means calling the Better Business Bureau, but it also means you need to do some online research. Most companies will have reviews written by people who used them. Watch for any company that does not seem to have positive reviews, that could be a problem.

Find out which debts you have that will not be covered in debt consolidation. While most debts can be consolidated, there are a few that cannot, such as some student loans. You need to make sure that you know what will be covered and what will not, before you sign up.

Before you start debt consolidation, make sure to check your credit report.
When you know exactly where your problems are, you can take the initial steps to solve them. Make sure you list whom you owe money to and the current status of that, your total debt, and more. It’s nearly impossible to restructure your finances if you don’t know anything about them.

Know what you’re getting into. This is critical. Before you sign up for any debt consolidation program, be crystal clear about the terms. Not only that, but if you’ve taken out a debt consolidation loan, make sure you are sure that you got the best loan rate available. Find out as much as you can.

Consider asking your family for a debt consolidation loan. If you are reliable and have a family with means, this can be the cheapest route to debt consolidation. They pay off the debt, and you pay them at an interest rate that is more favorable then a bank would offer in a savings plan. It can be a big win for all involved.

Find out whether a company pays its counselors by commission. This is tremendously important for you, since a counselor working on commission may not have your best interests at heart. Make sure you avoid commission-paying companies, and instead opt for those that treat their employees well and pay them a salary.

You should only use debt consolidation if you plan to put the maximum amount possible down on your debts every month. Yes, your overall monthly expenditures will go down, but that should only remedy the negative balance you have every month. Otherwise, use any extra money to put back into paying off your debt.

If you really want to pay off your debt, think about using your 401K. It offers you the ability to borrow from yourself as opposed to borrowing from a traditional bank. Be sure to pay it back within five years or you will face stiff financial penalties.

With the current low home mortgage interest rates, you may be able to refinance your home and take out some of the equity. Be careful to avoid borrowing as much as possible on your new mortgage. If home values should drop even more, you may end up owning a home that is less than the amount you owe on it.

Beware of debt consolidation companies that ask for any sort of fees upfront. This is typically a tell-tale sign of a scam. If you are placed in this situation, leave the situation immediately. This is not the way a debt consolidation company should be doing business, and chances are that your finances are not in good hands.

While engaging in a debt consolidation means a smaller bill in the short term, remember that it also means your payments will drag on for much longer. Can you afford that if something were to happen in the future? Some people find that paying off one of their smaller debts works better for them. Consider your options.

If you are personally going through a Chapter 13 situation, then debt consolidation might let you keep your physical property. As long as you pay off your debt by a certain time frame, whether it is three or five years, you should still be able to retain possession of both personal and real property. It is even possible to get interest charges eliminated while you are in this process.

If you have several debts, figure out your average interest rate. You are able to compare this number to the interest rate offered by the debt consolidation companies to ensure you have made a good decision. If your interest rate is relatively low, debt consolidation might not be needed.

You have read this article from top to bottom and understand debt consolidation deeply now. That means you are ready to start using it to deal with your own financial situation. Make use of these tips so that you have a great outcome once you are using debt consolidation yourself.